The St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order establishes a new Constitution for St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. As Ascension and Tristan da Cunha are no longer called Dependencies, the Order changes the name of the territory from St Helena and Dependencies to St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The new Constitution sets out enforceable fundamental rights and freedoms for each of the three islands, which share the same Governor as Her Majesty’s representative, the same Attorney General, and the same Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. For St Helena there is a Legislative Council and an Executive Council, and for each of Ascension and Tristan da Cunha there is an Island Council. New Judicial Service Commissions are established for St Helena and Ascension, and the office of Complaints Commissioner is established for St Helena. Provision is also made for the public services of the three islands and for public finance. The new Constitution replaces the existing Constitution set out in the St Helena Constitution Order 1988.